Melanoma

Posted on May 8, 2012 by Yes Five

Long gone are the days of lying on the roof, skin covered in baby oil, hair covered in sun-in — mixed with peroxide and lemon juice — listening to a mix tape of Journey and Air Supply on my walkman. Now, I know better and I listen to my 80s love ballads on my iPod. Like the generation before us did with cigarette smoking, we now also blame our cancer on our ignorance. I can only imagine what my children will be saying. I fear it will go something like, “We didn’t know texting could cause …” Let’s just hope the only end of that sentence is “… poor communication skills.” Despite increasing awareness, melanoma is the fastest growing cancer in the U.S. Here are five other facts you may find interesting.

1. Men and women have a 1 in 41 and 1 in 61 chance of developing melanoma respectively. It is most common in Caucasians, but can affect people of every race and skin type. Melanoma is the most common form of cancer in young adults aged 25-29.

2. The greatest contributor to the development of melanoma is exposure to ultraviolet rays — sunlight and tanning beds. One bad sunburn at a young age can double the risk of developing melanoma — uh oh. Using tanning beds before the age of 30 can triple your chances of developing this cancer. Uh oh. Uh oh. Uh oh.

3. Melanoma can develop anywhere on your body. In addition to UV exposure, family history and having fair skin and light eyes also increases your risk. But, don’t get too comfortable if you have dark skin. Bob Marley died of metastatic melanoma at the young age of 36. It started under his toenail.

4. Melanoma is, by far, the most dangerous of the skin cancers. If caught early, it can be cured. If it has progressed to a stage IV, the ten year survival is only about 15-20%.

5. A child’s exposure to the sun is three times that of an adult.

Since my parents’ idea of sunscreen was to make me wear a t-shirt when my shoulders started to blister, I have reason to be concerned. Be proactive. Look at your skin. Yes, I know, those full-length mirrors get more frightening with each passing year. Pour yourself a glass of wine, take a deep breath and then take a long look. If you notice any new skin lesions, if your moles and birthmarks look different or bigger than they used to, make an appointment with a dermatologist. Heck, make an appointment anyway. You should go every 6 months for a complete skin check. Then, a perfect stranger can do what you were too timid to do … look.

For some more information and tips on avoiding sun damage, take a look at The Promise Foundation website. When there, take a moment to read about the inspiration behind the conception of this organization — it will drive the point home. Melanoma is too common and too dangerous to ignore.

Posted in Cancer, Kids, Prevention, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Evidence for the Human Spirit

Posted on April 24, 2012 by Yes Five

Last night, I went to an event at my church — not because I wanted to, but because it was required by my children’s CCD program. It started at 7. The kids were already tired, and I was doing my fair share of complaining — Monday nights are tough, right?! Poor me. After throwing some leftovers at everyone, screaming about being late and generally being a crabapple, I sat down in my pew. Then, Tony Melendez and his band were introduced. Well, talk about feeling like a real horse’s bottom, it turned out to be one of the most inspirational hours of my life. Melendez was born in Nicaragua with no arms and a club foot. After spending a childhood mastering the simple tasks of everyday living, he decided, at the age of 16, to learn how to play guitar — with his feet. I have been known to wallow in a shallow pool of self-pity if the breeze blows the wrong way. Here is a man who, despite an incredible disability, sat before me, joy in his every movement, and played songs of thanks and praise to God. How, listening to that music and watching that musician, could I not believe in the strength and hope of the human spirit? I googled to see if I could find any more evidence, because I am, after all, a scientist and to a fault, want proof.

1. In 1907, Dr. Duncan MacDougall, weighed dying patients immediately before and immediately after death. He found that in some cases, patients were about 21 grams lighter. In dogs, there was no change in weight at all. He claimed this weight change to be the result of the spirit leaving the body. These results have never been reproduced.

2. There are thousands of reports of near-death or death experiences. They are curiously similar despite age, culture, and time.

That’s about all I could find, falling pitifully short of my 5-blurb norm. I must admit I am disappointed. I had hoped after writing the intro, I would find volumes of proof that we are more than what we can see and touch. The evidence is weak, and most of it is so reminiscent of my college Philosophy courses, I couldn’t read past the first couple of sentences. Circular reasoning was never my thing. So, I humbly present you with three more pieces of evidence that make me believe we humans have a soul; that we have a spirit — and it is beautiful.

3. HOPE

4. LOVE

5. FAITH

Even if you don’t believe in the miracle of the human spirit, you will find this link inspirational. At the very least, it will make you rethink the way you handle life’s everyday annoyances. Suddenly, traffic might not seem like much of an obstacle. It is Melendez’s 1987 performance before Pope John Paul II. It was this performance which inspired him to carry his message of hope and strength to a larger, global audience. He touched me personally last night, and today, as evidenced by this post, I am a complete sap. I heard “Even Now” by Barry Manilow at the grocery store and started crying in the frozen food aisle — true story.

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Vomiting and Diarrhea – when to worry

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Yes Five

"Stop crying Charlie!"

Here’s a great topic for a beautiful Thursday — throw up. See this picture? It sums up my family vacation (or, as my husband appropriately calls it, family trip, since going away with little kids is never much of a vacation.) Under the bucket is the son of satan, also known as my son, Charlie. Slamming the bucket on his head is his, normally tolerant, twin brother, Shane. No one could take the whining and crying anymore, so “little” bro, without prompting, solved the problem with a sand toy. “Stop Crying, Charlie!”, he snapped. Can’t believe we got the picture, but wish we had the video. Shane is my new favorite kid. For over a week, in addition to dealing with the general annoying behavior, we were going through diapers like they were cold beers on a hot day. Clearly, we have too many kids because instead of feeling bad for our little sick guy, we were googling “Vacation Sitters For Hire” on our iPhones. Finally, finally, we arrived home to a sane world where capable babysitters are on-call. Just as my husband is carrying Damian out of the car, into the house and up the stairs, the real exorcism begins. Hellooo partially digested airplane food — everywhere. You would’ve thought a fraternity rush class had been there. Several bottles of wine and one bottle of bleach later, I started to at least consider worrying.

When a responsible parent should worry.
1. If you have reason to suspect the child has ingested something poisonous.

2. If the vomit or the diarrhea contains any blood.

3. If the child is complaining of pain, especially localized to one spot.

4. If the child has a fever lasting for more than three days or one that is unresponsive to antipyretics (anti-fever) medications.

5. If there are signs of dehydration. These include:
- markedly decreased or absent urination
- very dry mouth
- lethargy
- few or no tears
- headache
- sunken eyes

The other thing that should make you worry is … worry. Go with your paternal gut. If you just don’t feel this is a normal stomach bug, talk to your doctor. If the symptoms are severe and prolonged, talk to your doctor. Charlie’s symptoms have been going on for a painfully long (for me) time, but they come and go and are mild. He is drinking and eating normally, and this is a great indication we can suspend real concern. My efforts now are mostly focused on which boarding schools accept two year olds. If this is how he handles a mild stomach issue, can you imagine what we have in store when he starts preschool??

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Synthetic Marijuana

Posted on April 16, 2012 by Yes Five

As if artificial sugar, artificial turf and artificial friends weren’t enough, we now have to worry about our kids and artificial marijuana. This intriguing and very dangerous drug which, until recently, was legally sold in gas stations and convenience stores, has been highlighted on the news of late. Doctors are trying to get the word out in an effort to increase awareness. This is me doing my part. In addition to being scary stuff, I am shocked by the ease with which kids can stumble upon it. When I was their age, if you wanted to do drugs, you had to do it the hard way … grow it in a planter on your fire escape.

1. Fake pot, or synthetic cannabinoids, were, until recently, sold over the counter legally as incense in little foil packets — probably right next to the rolling papers. Marketed under different names including Spice, K2, Mr. Nice Guy and Skunk, (with a name like Skunk, one wonders why it took so long to recognize that manufacturers aren’t selling it for it’s olfactory pleasantness) the labels clearly state “Not For Consumption.”

2. The active ingredients in these “incenses” mimic the effects of marijuana. As an added bonus, users often need to smoke less for a similar or heightened high than that they get from pot. The additional chemicals used are unregulated, unclear and unsafe.

3. Many reports indicate a rise in the use of synthetic pot — no surprise if you read #2. You were a kid once — doesn’t less for more spark your curiosity? One survey revealed 11% of high school seniors have tried it.

4. ER doctors are reporting a rise in the number of visits from synthetic pot use. It is difficult for them to initially sort out the symptoms because, unlike most known drugs, there is no urine or blood test for it. Diagnosis and treatment rely heavily on the experience and savvy of the physician — and, the honesty of the patient. Symptoms include racing heart beats, difficulty breathing, hallucinations, panic attacks and seizure. There have been reports of patients with temporary paralysis and scorched lungs. It has been linked with suicide and murder, likely from the concurring paranoia. Even Bob Marley would be appalled.

5. Many of the ingredients in these products have been banned, but clever manufacturers are able to find ways around this. By changing the formulation, the packaging and/or the name, the law can be skirted. Synthetic marijuana is a drug, whose day it seems, has come.

This is not the pot of your hippie days. It is not the feel good, eat brownies and sleep it off kind of weed. That isn’t good for you either, but while that one may make you laugh, this one should frighten you. While it is almost impossible to overdose on marijuana, it is easy to overdose on this fake stuff. I fear, despite the bans, it will become easier to purchase. Warn your kids but, more importantly, be very aware. Teenagers, as a group, will always be really, really poor decision makers and really, really good liars. The last thing they need is “fake drugs” to further confuse their developing brains.

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Should You Hold Your Child Back?

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Yes Five

When I was growing up, kids only got left back when they had serious academic or behavioral difficulty. When we started school, we either made the cutoff date, or we didn’t. My younger sister’s birthday is December 30th. The cutoff for Kindergarten in New York at that time was December 31st. The question of when she would start school was never raised — she started when she was supposed to. But … Ahhhhh! Therein lies the new confusion. What does supposed to mean? Yes, there are specific, state-dependent cutoff dates, but when is a child really ready for school? The answer is not very clear. To be fair to the present, Kindergarten is harder than it used to be. Some children, according to experienced educators, are simply not academically and/or socially ready. In these instances, giving them one more year is a gift that carries with it, the hope they will end up on par with their classmates. Some children, according to their parents, will not be able to compete successfully in sports if they enter school in the year designated by the Board of Ed. In these instances, teachers are expected to  instruct roomfuls of young kids whose academic ages span not only 12, but 16 and 17 months. And, on the all-important playing field, unless kids are on travel teams, they may be playing with and against kids 1 1/2 years older. This may be great if you are the soccer mom of the oldest child on the team, but believe me, isn’t as great — or safe — if your child happens to be the youngest.

1. Education experts who support the decision to retain a child, say chronological age is much less important than developmental age. Where your child’s birthday falls is only part of the picture. Some young children are ready for school far before their older peers.

2. Economists do not recommend holding your child back.  They defend this position with evidence that any initial academic advantage tends to be gone by the time kids reach the 8th grade. As economists, they will also remind you that you will be depriving your child of another year of earnings — hard to factor that in for a five year old, I know.

3. Things to consider: attention span, social skills, interest in learning, behavioral control.

4. Older children, as a rule, do not perform better academically. Retaining a child who is actually ready for school, can deny them experiences they need to mature.

5. So, despite the very specific cutoff dates, there is a huge gray area. What is clear however, is this is a debate needing to be carried out on a case by case basis. If you are concerned about your child’s readiness, speak with her current teachers and the staff at the school she is to attend. Many parents find it helpful to observe the class their child is scheduled to enter. Seeing the maturity, or lack thereof, of the other students can help in this process. Your child is an individual and you love her for all her unique qualities. This is one of those times when advice from other parents is less than helpful — they are not parenting your child. Therefore, their experience, good or bad, may be irrelevant to yours.

If there were more hours in the day, I would start lobbying for a nationwide cutoff date. People move, kids cross state lines for college. A uniform date, whatever it may be, just makes sense. I am stuck in NJ with twin boys born on November 9th. The cutoff here is October 1st. I am considering moving to NY for a few years just to get this show on the road. I am too old for three years of preschool!

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To Cleanse or Not to Cleanse …

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Yes Five

At first pass, a cleanse sounds like a good idea. After all, I have been abusing my gastrointestinal system with fried food, chocolate and dairy. To make matters worse, I have been washing this all down with diet coke and dirty martinis. Wouldn’t a good, thorough cleaning do wonders to reverse all the damage I have done? The GI system is just plumbing, after all. What goes in, must come out.
A couple of years ago, I did a three day cleanse for no good reason. I think I did it because everyone was doing it, and it sounds cool to say, “None for me. I’m on a cleanse.” (I pray my kids have better peer pressure defenses than their mom.) My husband did it at the same time. We had very different experiences.
It arrived innocently at the door — 6 harmless looking bottles a day. Three of the bottles contained a swampy, green liquid, one a spicy lemonade, one — the only palatable one — a white, chalky substance and one a red, beet-like beverage. The idea was to drink all six, water as needed and nothing else. By the end of the first day, I felt generally lethargic. By day three, I was upping my life insurance. My husband, on the other hand, worked out every day, was sickeningly cheery and had more energy than ever. Sometimes, I am not sure why I love him. I did lose 6 pounds … then, I promptly gained seven.

1. In medical terms, a colonic cleanse is something that washes out your colon. Its use can be traced back to ancient Greece. The theory behind cleansing is this: undigested food sits on the wall of the colon and releases toxins into the body. Getting rid of the particles will get rid of the toxins and will improve your overall health. There are two ways to do it — from above or from below. You can take supplements by mouth that work as laxatives, or you can use enemas. There are practitioners who will perform colonic irrigation. Click on the link for more on that topic — it is too early in the day for me to type it.

2. Other things that call themselves cleanses – Most of the cleanses being touted by nutritionists and celebrities aren’t true colonic cleanses. They would be even more unpleasant if they were. Nutritional cleanses are designed to “clean out” your system by providing a large amount of vitamins and probiotics without a lot of calories. They are, essentially, a well-packaged liquid diet.

3. There is no good research to support colonic cleansing of any type. Purported benefits include weight loss, increased stamina, immune system strengthening, improvement in concentration and mental function and colon cancer risk reduction.

4. Risks vary based on an individual’s baseline health status and the intensity of the cleanse. They range from increasing risk of infection to bowel perforation. Cleanses can also cause diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and dehydration. Some cleanses will interfere with other medications. If you are taking meds, especially blood thinners, discuss any cleanse with your doctor before starting.

5. While most medical evidence shows no health benefit to colonic cleansing and detoxification, an occasional nutritional cleanse in a healthy, active person will probably cause no harm. I may do one again just because I like the way it sounds.

A lot of the cleanses are fairly pricey. Most of them will result in weight loss, but believe me, you will gain it back quickly. The best way to take care of your colon is through simple, good nutrition. Eat a lot of fiber, limit your red meat intake and drink lots of water. Try these three simple steps for one week, and I promise you will feel better and have more energy — now THAT really sounds good.

If you had an experience with a cleanse, good or bad, please share it.

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Xanax & more on the addiction that possibly killed Whitney Houston

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Yes Five

Mother’s little helper? Obviously, as Ms. Houston’s daughter can attest, not always. Sometimes it is mother’s little destructor. In the sixties, valium, one of the first benzodiazepine’s was a breakthrough drug. It was used to treat anxiety, seizures, alcohol withdrawal and more. Brought to light by The Rolling Stones (see quote above), it became very popular among mothers, especially those who were staying home to raise their children. It clearly “helped” because from 1969 to 1982, it was the top selling pharmaceutical in the United States. Little by little, likely in response to the anti-drug campaign, it was replaced by Chardonnay. Now, it is back — not just as valium but in the form of other benzodiazepine’s, most notably, Xanax. “Just pop a Xanax”, is becoming as popular as, “I need a drink.”
Who am I to judge? My house is very fragile, with all these glass walls. I was given a muscle relaxant for my TMJ disorder which, as a bonus, has a Xanax-like effect. To be truthful, it felt good — it was this good feeling that scared me. I took it only a handful of times, at night, when another adult was present. It took the edge off, much like a couple of glasses of wine, but without the buzz or the hangover. I was slightly more drowsy but completely coherent. Life just bothered me less. By the way it did nothing for my TMJ pain, but I didn’t care enough to care.

1. Xanax (alprazolam) is the most prescribed benzodiazepine in the United States.

2. Xanax has addictive potential. However, unlike other drugs where a tolerance develops, only rarely does the dose need to be increased to get the same, desired effect.

3. Common side effects include drowsiness and lethargy, decreased libido, and dizziness. Less common benign side effects include constipation, dry mouth, rash, nausea, confusion and a whole laundry list. There are also serious, but rare, side effects like liver problems and seizures.

4. Deaths from Xanax do occur. In the vast majority of these deaths, toxicology reports revealed a combination of several drugs and alcohol. Xanax alone is responsible for only about 1% of the deaths where Xanax is a factor. (Did that make sense because my mother’s little helper in a glass may be kicking in?)

5. When should you take Xanax? 1 – when your anxiety disorder is severe and crippling to your life. 2 – when it is prescribed by a doctor who is not just trying to get you out the door. 3 –  when you have no history of addiction. 4 – when you are willing to abstain from alcohol and other recreational drugs. 5- when you understand and accept that, after a period of extended use, the withdrawal from the drug will not be pleasant.

I can understand why the superstar needed help. She had been through multiple rehabilitations, survived an abusive marriage, was in and out of the limelight and had a talent larger than life to live up to. I wouldn’t wish that kind of fame — and infamy — on anyone. Toxicology will tell. For now, this is what I know. Prescription drugs, when not taken as prescribed, are as dangerous as as a dirty needle in a back alley.

Posted in Depression, Psych, Sleep, Stress, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Your heart and exercise

Posted on February 8, 2012 by Yes Five

February is a fantastic month to fall back in love … with yourself. I say back in love, because I have a couple of two year olds, and they are a shining reminder of all that is egocentric in this world. At some point, even if it was only as a toddler, you loved yourself more than anyone else in the world. As a matter of fact, you believed everyone else existed only for your amusement and to wipe your butt. I guess there are some adults who still feel this way. The majority of you, though, have done a 180 and have forgotten the importance of your personal well-being. NOW is a great time for a reminder. Forget about the chocolate. This Valentine’s Day, treat yourself with wellness. Start an exercise routine for your heart.

Why?

1. Your heart is a muscle. Just as a stronger bicep lifts heavy things easier and is less prone to injury, a strong heart pumps and relaxes in between beats more efficiently.

2. Aerobic exercise, which is essentially anything that gets your heart rate up, decreases blood pressure. Think of a pump trying to send water through a tight, hard hose. Now think of a pump sending water through a flexible, wider hose. Which pump do you think is going to blow a gasket sooner? Click here for your target heart rate during exercise.

3. Exercise has a positive effect on your cholesterol level. We know it lowers triglycerides and increases HDL (good cholesterol). It is not clear what it does for your LDL (bad cholesterol), but, for certain, overall it is a good thing.

4. Exercise obviously promotes a healthy weight. A healthy weight is a gift to your heart, as it puts less strain on your ticker. But, all you somewhat thin, lazy people should know this — an overweight person who exercises has less risk of developing heart disease than a sedentary thin person.

5. Exercise is known to decrease stress. Stress is known to contribute to heart disease. The mechanism by which stress is harmful to your heart is poorly understood. There are theories, but the point is, stress = bad.

How much exercise do you need? 30 minutes a day, 3 days a week will decrease your risk of heart disease by about 20%. More exercise will decrease your risk by up to 60%. Many people are predisposed to heart disease because of genetics or co-morbidities. Even so, they can decrease the progression of heart disease if they exercise. I talked about this topic on ABC’s Healthy Living yesterday. Confession: I have not exercised in 6 months. In addition to the flab, I am exhausted all the time. I know it is because I need to get moving. So, I have my work out clothes on and my work cut out for me. I will do something today. The roller coaster continues.

 

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